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October 2018 Dynamic Update Developer’s Notes: Tharn CID

Below are changes that came out of the Tharn CID. Our thanks to all who participated in this CID cycle!

Circle

Morvahna the Autumnblade

Damage 15.

Seeds of Destruction. Change text to:

When a friendly Faction model destroys a living or undead enemy model with a melee or ranged attack while the enemy model is in Morvahna’s control range this turn, center a 4˝ AOE on the destroyed model, then remove the destroyed model from play. Enemy models in the AOE are hit and suffer an unboostable POW 13 blast damage roll. This damage is not considered to have been caused by an attack. Friendly models in the AOE can each remove d3 damage points.

Target friendly Faction unit gains +2 ARM. Models are not affected while out of formation. During your Control Phase, the spellcaster can spend fury points to return one destroyed small- or medium-based living Grunt from that unit to play for each fury point spent. A returned Grunt must be placed in the spellcaster’s control range, in formation, and within 3” of another model in its unit. The Grunt is returned with one unmarked damage box and must forfeit its Combat Action the turn it is put into play.

Morvahna 1 has always been an attrition-style warlock who focuses on the balance of life and death. We’ve increased her potency on a turn-by-turn basis with both Restoration and Mortality. Being able to return medium-based units with Restoration opens up the range of units available to her army compositions and creates some interesting list dynamics.

Morvahna the Dawnshadow

Change the last sentence of Blood Sacrifice to:

Returned models cannot attack the turn in which they are returned to play.

Change the first sentence of Scales of Fate to:

When a friendly Faction model makes an attack or damage roll during its activation while in this model’s control range, this model can suffer d3 damage points to cause that model to reroll that roll.

Change the last sentence of Carnivore to:

When an affected model destroys a living model with a melee attack, the destroyed model is removed from play and the spellcaster can remove d3 damage points.

Change the text of Censure to:

Enemy upkeep spells in the spellcaster’s control range immediately expire. A model can keep any of its upkeep spells in play by suffering d3 damage points per spell. This damage cannot be transferred or reduced by spending focus points. Remove one damage point from the spellcaster for each damage point caused by Censure. Censure can be cast only once per activation.

Equinox RNG 2.

Morvahna 2 received several small tweaks that culminate in a much more interesting and powerful warlock. Returning Scales of Fate to Control Range opens up the options that Morvahna 2 can include in her lists.

Brennos the Elderhorn

Cost 15.

DEF 12.

Change animus to Arcane Protections:

Arcane Protections 2 Self – – RND No

While within 10˝ of the spellcaster, enemy models cannot channel spells. Arcane Protections lasts for one round.

Gain Battle Wizard:

Battle Wizard - Once per turn, when this model destroys one or more enemy models with a melee attack during its activation, immediately after the attack is resolved it can make one Magic Ability special attack or special action.

Change Bond to:

Bond [Morvahna] - If this model begins the game in Morvahna’s battlegroup, it is bonded to her. This model is not considered to be bonded while under your opponent's control. While this model is bonded to Morvahna and in her control range, she can channel spells through it.

Condition (★Action) changed to Rite of Spring

Rite of Spring (★Action): Remove d3 damage points from each friendly living Faction model currently in this model’s command range.

As Morvahna’s character warbeast, Brennos brings a lot of utility to his warlock’s lists. Healing returned models (or Morvahna herself) gives Brennos a unique role helping Morvahna. A new and unique animus, a point reduction, and the addition of Battle Wizard add a lot of flavor and power to Brennos.

Feral Warpwolf, Gnarlhorn Satyr, Pureblood Warpwolf, Warpwolf Stalker

These warbeasts received minor stat tweaks and a general reduction in points. These minor tweaks should increase the efficiency of the warpwolves.

Ghetorix

Cost 19.

Gain Pathfinder .

Cut Regeneration.

Gain Rapid Healing:

Rapid Healing - When this model is damaged by an enemy attack, immediately after the attack is resolved remove d3 damage points from it.

We heard many comments on how Ghetorix was not sufficiently unique from the other warpwolves. We decided to push Ghetorix into the “durable” warpwolf archetype. Reducing his points and adding Rapid Healing achieved this in a very interesting and thematic way.

Rip Horn Satyr

Damage boxes increased to 30.

Gain Pathfinder .

Gain Bulldoze:

Bulldoze - When this model is B2B with an enemy model during its Normal Movement, it can push that model up to 2˝ directly away from it. A model can be pushed by Bulldoze only once per turn. Bulldoze has no effect when this model makes a trample power attack.

Bladed Gauntlets POW 5.

Animus changed to Ornery:

Ornery 1 Self – – RND No

The spellcaster gains Retaliatory Strike. Ornery lasts for one round and expires after the spellcaster makes a Retaliatory Strike attack. (If a model with Retaliatory Strike is hit by a melee attack made by an enemy model during your opponent’s turn, after that attack is resolved the model with Retaliatory Strike can immediately make one basic melee attack against that model.)

The Rip Horn Satyr received some efficiency updates. Always having Bulldoze instead of it being an animus allowed us to add Ornery to the available options of the Rip Horn. Slightly increasing POW and damage boxes helps solidify this as the combat-style satyr.

Shadowhorn Satyr

Gain Pathfinder .

Claws gain Beat Back:

Beat Back - Immediately after a basic attack with this weapon is resolved during this model’s Combat Action, the enemy model hit can be pushed 1˝ directly away from the attacking model. After the enemy model is pushed, the attacking model can advance up to 1˝ directly toward it.

Replace animus with Elusive:

Elusive 1 Self – – RND No

The spellcaster gains Dodge. Elusive lasts for one round. (A model with Dodge can advance up to 2˝ immediately after an enemy attack that missed it is resolved unless it was missed while advancing. It cannot be targeted by free strikes during this movement.)

Much like the Rip Horn, the Shadowhorn had its efficiency increased with some shuffling around of abilities.

Storm Raptor

Cost 34.

MAT 6.

Gain Pathfinder .

Gain Deceptively Mobile:

Deceptively Mobile - This model can move outside its Normal Movement as a result of Deceptively Mobile. At the end of an activation in which it did not run or fail a charge, this model can advance up to 3˝, then its activation ends.

Gain Flying High:

Flying High - Ranged attacks targeting this model suffer –3 RNG. Friendly models can advance through this model if they have enough movement to move completely past its base. This model loses Flying High if it loses Flight .

Change Sky Fire to:

Sky Fire 1 Self * – Round No

When a friendly Faction model makes an attack with a ranged weapon with Damage Type: Electricity targeting an enemy model within 10˝ of the spellcaster, the attacking model gains +2 to its attack roll. When an enemy model within 10˝ of the spellcaster suffers an electrical damage roll , add +2 to the roll. Sky Fire lasts for one round.

Lightning RNG 14.

Cut Lightning Generator on Lightning ranged attack.

Lightning ranged attack gains Energy Pulse (★Attack):

Energy Pulse (★Attack) - This attack does not need a target. Each other model within 6˝ of this model that is in its front arc is automatically hit unless this model’s LOS to it is blocked by terrain. Models hit suffer a POW 12 electrical damage roll . Energy Pulse damage rolls are simultaneous.

Lightning gains Sustained Attack:

Sustained Attack - During this model’s activation, when it makes an attack with this weapon against the last model hit by the weapon this activation, the attack automatically hits.

Replace Reload [1] with Reload [2]:

Reload [2] - This model can be forced to make up to two additional ranged attacks with this weapon during its Combat Action. It can make one additional attack each time it is forced.

The Storm Raptor went through a major overhaul. We wanted this model to be a ranged platform in the early game that opponents have to really commit to fighting to threaten. Flying High and Deceptively Mobile are both rules that promote this play style. Once the early game is done, we wanted to see the Storm Raptor swoop in and make a big impact on the battlefield. This is shown with the increase in MAT and the addition of Energy Pulse. Package all that together with a slight point reduction and you’ve got a pretty darn neat gargantuan!

Death Wolves

Gain Advance Deployment .

Advance Deployment lets the Death Wolves play a more aggressive game, which is how we would like to see them.

Tharn Blood Pack

Cost 10/15.

MAT 6.

ARM 15.

Cut Assault .

Gain Hunter:

Hunter - This model ignores concealment and cover when making ranged attacks.

Gain Rapid Healing:

Rapid Healing - When this model is damaged by an enemy attack, immediately after the attack is resolved remove d3 damage points from it.

Tharn Bow RNG 12, POW 14.

Bow gains Arcing FIre:

Arcing Fire - When attacking with this weapon, this model can ignore intervening models except those within 1˝ of the target.

Many of the changes to Tharn are to differentiate them from each other. The Tharn Bloodpack is the ranged fire support of the Tharn army and should have a hint of hit-and-run forest-dweller flavor.

Tharn Bloodtrackers

Cost 9/15.

We felt the role of the Bloodtrackers was perfectly represented. A slight point drop brought them in line with the rest of the Tharn options.

Nuala the Huntress

Cut Parry .

Replace Granted: Swift Hunter with Granted: Reposition [3”]:

Granted: Reposition [3˝] - While this model is in formation, models in its unit gain Reposition [3˝]. (At the end of an activation in which it did not run or fail a charge, a model with Reposition [3˝] can advance up to 3˝, then its activation ends.)

Gain Hunter’s Reckoning:

Hunter’s Reckoning - This model can use Hunter’s Reckoning once per game at any time during its unit’s activation. When it does, choose a new enemy model/unit to be this model/unit’s prey. The previously chosen model/unit is no longer this unit’s prey.

Nuala was not quite doing enough for her unit. We felt Hunter’s Reckoning was a really interesting ability for a master hunter such as Nuala and shows her formidable skills.

Tharn Ravagers

Cost 10/15.

Gain Rapid Healing:

Rapid Healing - When this model is damaged by an enemy attack, immediately after the attack is resolved remove d3 damage points from it.

Increasing damage output and reducing point cost slightly put this unit in a great place. Adding a little durability against lower-power attacks gives this unit the tiny amount of survivability that it really needed to survive long enough to engage the lines of battle!

Tharn Ravager Chieftain

Gain Rapid Healing:

Rapid Healing - When this model is damaged by an enemy attack, immediately after the attack is resolved remove d3 damage points from it.

Tharn Wolf Riders

Cut Assault .

Gain Dual Attack:

Dual Attack - This model can make melee and ranged attacks in the same activation. When this model makes its initial melee attacks or a power attack, it can also make its initial ranged attacks. This model can make ranged attacks even while in melee.

Gain Jump.

Jump - After it makes a full advance during its Normal Movement but before it performs its Combat Action, you can place this model anywhere completely within 5˝of its current location. Any effects that prevent charging also prevent this model from using Jump.

We envision Wolf Riders as the premier flanking unit of the army. With impressive speed and now versatility, the unit can quickly position itself on portions of the board that opponents may not want it to be. Dual Attack and Jump really showcased how the riders fought with their wolves and were not just riding them.

Bloodweaver Night Witch

Gain Advanced Deployment .

Cut Blood Rituals.

Implements of Death gain Weapon Master .

Cut Life Drinker.

Cut Grievous Wounds

Gain Attack Types:

Attack Type - Each time this weapon is used to make an attack, choose one of the following special rules:

Dispel - When this weapon hits a model/unit, upkeep spells and animi on that model/unit immediately expire.

Grievous Wounds - A model hit by this weapon loses Tough and cannot have damage removed from it for one round.

Life Stealer - When an attack with this weapon destroys an enemy model, immediately after the attack is resolved a friendly living Faction model currently in this model’s command range can remove d3 damage points.

The Night Witch was a solid solo before the CID cycle, but we felt it was not quite hitting its mark. The changes made increase its consistency and give additional options to the model.

Lord of the Feast

SPD 6.

ARM 16.

Gain Death-Powered:

Death-Powered - This model gains +1 STR and ARM for each corpse token currently on it.

Wurmblade gains Blood Reaper and Grievous Wounds:

Blood Reaper - When this model makes an initial attack with this weapon, it makes one melee attack with this weapon against each model in its LOS that is in this weapon’s melee range. Blood Reaper attacks are simultaneous.

Grievous Wounds - A model hit by this weapon loses Tough and cannot have damage removed from it for one round.

Cut Thresher.

As a manifestation of an ancient spirit, the Lord of the Feast should feel powerful and scary. These changes certainly accomplish that! Increases in stats for collecting corpses along with Blood Reaper can really let the Lord of the Feast threaten a wide variety of targets, from lowly infantry to powerful warcasters.

Tharn Ravager Shaman

Cost 4.

CMD 8.

Cut Battle Wizard.

Gain Rapid Healing:

Rapid Healing - When this model is damaged by an enemy attack, immediately after the attack is resolved remove d3 damage points from it.

The Shaman received some minor updates but was shown by the community to be spot-on in its role and functionality.

Tharn Ravager White Mane

Gain Countercharge:

Countercharge - When an enemy model advances and ends its movement within 6˝ of this model and in its LOS, this model can immediately charge it. This model can use Countercharge only once per round and not while engaged.

Gain Rapid Healing:

Rapid Healing - When this model is damaged by an enemy attack, immediately after the attack is resolved remove d3 damage points from it.

As basically a total rework, the White Mane is now a chieftain type of model. Giving his Veteran Leadership buff in the early game before wading into combat himself with Counter Charge was not only a thematic choice for him but also very useful.

Tharn Wolf Rider Champion

Cost 7.

Cut Assault .

Gain Backstab:

Backstab - While completely within the back arc of an enemy model, this model gains an additional die on its attack and damage rolls against that model.

Gain Dual Attack:

Dual Attack - This model can make melee and ranged attacks in the same activation. When this model makes its initial melee attacks or a power attack, it can also make its initial ranged attacks. This model can make ranged attacks even while in melee.

Much like the Tharn Ravager White Mane, the Champion is a substantial rework. Moving Veteran Leader over to the White Mane let us specialize the Champion as more of a combat solo tied directly to the Tharn Wolf Riders.

Skorne

Dominar Rasheth

Change the last sentence of Carnivore to:

When an affected model destroys a living model with a melee attack, the destroyed model is removed from play and the spellcaster can remove d3 damage points.

This change is a result of the Morvahna 2 change.

Legion

Archangel

Cost 35.

Gain Pathfinder .

Gain Flying High:

Flying High - Ranged attacks targeting this model suffer –3 RNG. Friendly models can advance through this model if they have enough movement to move completely past its base. This model loses Flying High if it loses Flight .

As we progress in our development and adjustment of gargantuans, we are learning what players like and are excited about. We decided to revisit the Archangel after this CID because many of the things we learned about the Storm Raptor also apply to this magnificent dragonspawn.

Minions

Calaban, The Grave Walker

Change the last sentence of Carnivore to:

When an affected model destroys a living model with a melee attack, the destroyed model is removed from play and the spellcaster can remove d3 damage points.

This change is a result of the Morvahna 2 change.

Theme Forces

Circle Theme Force: Call of the Wild

Add “Circle structures” to the Army Composition section.

The Well of Oroboros is now included.

Circle Theme Force: Secret Masters

Add “Circle structures” to the Army Composition section.

Replace the first benefit with the following:

This army can include any number of Minion units and solos. These models/units can be included even if they have the Partisan [Circle] special rule.

Replace the second benefit with the following:

For every full 20 points of Blackclad models/units and Minion units in this army, you can add one Circle solo or Blackclad command attachment to the army free of cost. Free models do not count toward the total number of Blackclad models/units in the army when calculating this bonus.

We’ve been talking about and play testing this change to Secret Masters internally for some time and felt now was the right time to put it out rather than waiting for a specific CID cycle to do it. These occurrences can happen but are rare. I would not expect them in the future!

Circle Theme Force: The Devourer’s Host

Add “Loki” to the Army Composition section.

Add “Circle structures” to the Army Composition section.

Replace the second benefit with the following:

For every full 20 points of Tharn models/units in this army, you can add one Circle command attachment or Circle solo to the army free of cost. Free models do not count toward the total point value of Tharn models/units in the army when calculating this bonus.

Replace the third benefit with the following:

One Tharn Bloodweaver unit in this army gains Ambush. (You can choose not to deploy a unit with Ambush at the start of the game. If it is not deployed normally, you can put it into play at the end of any of your Control Phases after your first turn. When you do, choose any table edge except the back of your opponent’s deployment zone. Place all models in the unit with Ambush in formation completely within 3 ̋ of the chosen table edge.)

Replace the fourth benefit with the following:

Each model in this army that can gain corpse tokens begins the game with one corpse token.

CID showed some of the weaknesses of the Devourer’s Host theme force and how it was forcing players into building the list in certain ways (that were not intended). Opening up the free models as well as which models and how many corpses are generated really lets players explore more of the theme force instead of falling into specific list patterns.